well, we can't just get to this problem by dealing with tax increases. this seems to be the preferred method of dealing with our deficits and debt, by raising taxes, which of course happened as a result of the fiscal cliff negotiations where taxes have gone up on americans roughly $60 billion a year, almost $600 billion over the next ten years. but the president's budgets nevertheless continue to ask for more revenue, but the message from this side of the aisle has been the president has gotten his pound of flesh on taxes. now it's time to deal with spending. unfortunately, we no longer have the luxury of delaying our toughest fiscal decisions. our gross national debt is now larger than our entire economy and we're now facing more than $100 trillion in unfunded liabilities for things like medicare and social security, promises we won't be able to keep unless we act now to put them on a fiscally sustainable path. i'm glad that our house colleagues have passed the no budget, no pay bill. i think most americans appreciate the fact that if congress doesn't d